Angels beat A's 7-1 to complete 3-game sweep

The Los Angeles Angels gave themselves a chance with a mini-roll heading into a pivotal series against the Oakland Athletics. Then three dominant days in the Bay Area put them right back in the AL wild-card mix.

Los Angeles Angels' Albert Pujols slides to score against the Oakland Athletics' in the third inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, in Oakland, Calif. Pujols scored on a single by Howie Kendrick.

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Oakland Athletics' Brandon McCarthy follows through on a pitch to a Los Angeles Angels batter in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, in Oakland, Calif.

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Oakland Athletics pitcher Brandon McCarthy (32) is tended to by a trainer after being struck in the head by a ball hit by Los Angeles Angels' Erick Aybar in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, in Oakland, Calif. McCarthy was sent to the hospital, and according to the team he never lost consciousness. The Angels won 7-1.

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Oakland Athletics center fielder Coco Crisp, right, cannot make the catch on a ball that fell for a double hit by Los Angeles Angels' Howie Kendrick in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, in Oakland, Calif. At left is right fielder Josh Reddick.

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Oakland Athletics' Travis Blackley works against the Los Angeles Angels in the sixth inning of a baseball game on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, in Oakland, Calif.

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Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jered Weaver throws to first after fielding a ground ball, that first knocked him down, from Seattle Mariners' Dustin Ackley in the fifth inning of a baseball game on Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012, in Seattle. Ackley singled on the play.

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Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia, center, argues a call with second base umpire Tom Hallion, right, in the third inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, in Oakland, Calif. Scioscia argued that A's Cliff Pennington, left, ran outside the baseline en route to second base.

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Los Angeles Angels' Torii Hunter swings for a two-run single off Oakland Athletics' Grant Balfour in the ninth inning of a baseball game on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, in Oakland, Calif.

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Oakland Athletics' Yoenis Cespedes tosses his bat after flying out on a pitch from Los Angeles Angels' Dan Haren in the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, in Oakland, Calif.

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Los Angeles Angels' Dan Haren works against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, in Oakland, Calif.